Lago Chapala

Super and Panzon along with Annie in the background

Today Josh and I went to see our new friends Super and Annie in Parque Revolución as they led a group in Capoeira, a really interesting form of martial arts that originated in Brazil. Along with Super and Annie were their kids Panzon- a 10-year-old who is an amazing athlete as well- and their new daughter Elena. I watched and held Elena as the group performed, my palms sweating as a few (including Panzon and Super) did flips and somersaults.
Afterwards we all piled into their van and headed to Lake Chapala, the largest lake in Mexico, which is about 45 minutes outside of the city. There we swam in hot spring swimming pools and had a great meal of arrechera. People, sadly, do not swim in the lake because of its contaminación, yet it is beautiful... quite large and surrounded by mountains.

Panzon and I goofing around at one of the pools. Panzon and his father had just finished carrying out a series of multi-flip and backwards dives off of the diving platform.

Super, Elena, and Annie

Josh and Panzon in back of van... Josh was trying out the elote (corn) ice cream

Photos by Josh. Of course.

Yesterday we had our first day of class with 8 students from CODENI. We will meet with them every Saturday to take photos and critique. The organization Listen to My Pictures is purchasing cameras for the kids to use, and they will be able to take the cameras home with them each week in order to better "document" their lives. Late next spring we are hoping to have a show with their best works, and along the way we will be creating a website to display their work.